A confirmed 'Palestine Campaign' Great War Medal pair: Private John A. Macer, 'A' Squadron, 1/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry, late 21 Corps Cavalry Regiment
- British War Medal. Silver (2426 Pte. J. A. Macer. Herts. Yeo.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (2426 Pte. J. A. Macer. Herts. Yeo.)
Note: The Great War campaign medals verified as the recipients full medal entitlement for the Great War per the respective campaign medal roll of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry (ref WO 329/22) that was compiled and signed at, Canterbury, England, on, 25 October 1920
The recipient first entered theatre of war 'Egypt' (for service with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the 'Palestine' campaign, holding the regimental number No 2426, subsequently being renumbered as No 105717
Important: Reference file series MH 106/1934 at The National Archives 'British Armed Forces, First World War Soldier's Medical Records' the recipient is confirmed as having been hospitalised while serving in Palestine, when on 23 October 1918, he was admitted aboard the His Majesty's Hospital Ship 'Assaye', his service entry details being shown as No 105715 (sic) Pte J. Macer, 21st Corps Cavalry
The XXI Corps was an Army Corps of the British Army during World War I. The Corps was formed in Egypt in June 1917 under the command of Lieutenant General Edward Bulfin. It formed part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), that served in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The 21st Corps Cavalry were present at; Beersheba, Third Gaza, Jaffa and Megiddo
The 1/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry was mobilised in August 1914 and attached to the Eastern Mounted Brigade, they later moved to Egypt in January 1915 and joined the Yeomanry Mounted Brigade. The Yeomanry Mounted Brigade moved to Gallipoli as dismounted troops attached to the 2nd Mounted Division and re-designated as the 5th Mounted Brigade. After the evacuation of Gallipoli they returned to Egypt in December 1915, and were remounted and moved to the Western Frontier Force. In March 1916 the Regiment was split up, RHQ with A Squadron were attached to the 54th Division, later A Squadron joined XXI Corps, Cavalry in Palestine. B Squadron was attached to the 11th Division, in England until on 12 July 1916 joined VI Corps Cavalry, until early in 1917 when it moved to join XVIII Corps, Cavalry. In May 1917 it became GHQ Troops. In July 1917 it returned to Egypt and in May 1918 joined XXI Corps Cavalry in Palestine. D Squadron moved to Mesopotamia, initially on Lines of Communication duties and in July 1916 it was attached to the 13th Division, until December of that year when they moved to III (Tigris) Corps Cavalry. In August 1917 they were attached to the 15th Indian Infantry Division, and in May 1918 they were tasked with Lines of Communication duties with the North Persia Force.
John Arthur Macer, son of William A Macer (Coachman) and Annie Macer (nee Adams) was a native of, Stanstead Saint Margarets, Hertfordshire, England, where he was born on, 21 January 1894. By the time of the 1911 National Census, John is recorded working an an 'Apprenticed Carpenter', and living with his parents at, 'The Stables', St Margaretsbury, St Margarets, Nr Ware, Hertsfordshire, England. During the Great War, John served with his local mounted yeomanry regiment, 1/1 Hertfordshire Yeomanry, in which he served with 'A' Squadron, attached to the 21st Corps Cavalry Regiment, and served through the 'Palestine Campaign' fighting enemy Turkish Ottoman Forces. Post-war, John returned to his native Hertfordshire, and sometime during the fourth quarter of 1924, he married, Constance Fanny Pratt. By the time of the compilation of the 1939 National Register for England & Wales, John and his wife are recorded as living at, 126 Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, at which time his employment was on his own account operating 'A Tobacconist & Confectionary' retail shop. Still residing at the foregoing address, John Arthur Macer, is recorded as having died on 6 February 1959
The campaign medals mounted in the court-style for display
Condition: About EF
Code: 20958